The bodies of the victims were found Thursday by divers for Epic Divers & Marine of Belle Chasse and the Coast Guard, authorities said. They had been working aboard an oil industry support boat owned by Bahrain-based Adams Offshore Services.

Investigators have determined the helicopter crashed off an oil rig landing platform about 60 miles south of Terrebonne Bay and sank into the Gulf, said Eric Weiss, a spokesman for the transportation agency. It was unclear where the helicopter had taken off, and the rig’s owner wasn’t identified.

This is the only helicopter crash in the Gulf this year, Weiss said.

Bourgeois was flying in the Bell 206-L4 as part of his job as an air-conditioning technician for BNA Marine Services, an Amelia company that handles mechanical and repair needs for the marine industry.

“Rory was a great man and a great technician,” said Jay Schexnayder, BNA Marine Services chief financial officer.

BNA Marine Service officials declined to comment on the investigation.

Weiss said data from the crash will be analyzed to determine why it happened.

“Our investigator will document the wreckage and accident scene, interview witnesses and look at radar data and the history of the flight,” Weiss said.

Autopsies and toxicology tests will be performed on the two victims, and investigators will try to determine their activities in the 72 hours leading to the crash, he said.

A preliminary report with a hypothesized cause of the crash will be released in about a week, he said.

<p>It will take 12-18 months to determine the cause of the helicopter crash in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday that killed a Thibodaux man and the pilot, federal investigators said.</p><p>The victims were identified as Rory Bourgeois, 48, of Thibodaux, and pilot George LeLoup, whose hometown wasn't released, National Transportation Safety Board officials said.</p><p>The bodies of the victims were found Thursday by divers for Epic Divers & Marine of Belle Chasse and the Coast Guard, authorities said. They had been working aboard an oil industry support boat owned by Bahrain-based Adams Offshore Services.</p><p>Investigators have determined the helicopter crashed off an oil rig landing platform about 60 miles south of Terrebonne Bay and sank into the Gulf, said Eric Weiss, a spokesman for the transportation agency. It was unclear where the helicopter had taken off, and the rig's owner wasn't identified. </p><p>This is the only helicopter crash in the Gulf this year, Weiss said.</p><p>Bourgeois was flying in the Bell 206-L4 as part of his job as an air-conditioning technician for BNA Marine Services, an Amelia company that handles mechanical and repair needs for the marine industry.</p><p>“Rory was a great man and a great technician,” said Jay Schexnayder, BNA Marine Services chief financial officer.</p><p>BNA Marine Service officials declined to comment on the investigation.</p><p>Weiss said data from the crash will be analyzed to determine why it happened.</p><p>“Our investigator will document the wreckage and accident scene, interview witnesses and look at radar data and the history of the flight,” Weiss said.</p><p>Autopsies and toxicology tests will be performed on the two victims, and investigators will try to determine their activities in the 72 hours leading to the crash, he said.</p><p>A preliminary report with a hypothesized cause of the crash will be released in about a week, he said.</p><p>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</p>